Art lovers from far and wide convene on Fiesta Arts Fair, now in its 46th year, on the picturesques and historic grounds of the Southwest School of Art. Located along San Antonio's renown River Walk, the festive two-day event offers patrons an intimate opportunity to interact with artists and purchase high quality contemporary and traditional art and craft from approximately 115 exhibitors. The Fair also includes live regional music, food and beverage booths and an interactive youth art area. Juror selected cash awards and artists' amenities including volunteer booth sitters, air-conditioned artist hospitality suite and restrooms, and Saturday breakfast tacos and artist's happy hour.

“I like how it is a true art fair; so many others are fextivals about so much else beside art”“Great venue, great city, great customers, good sales, and well run”"I love the intimate size of the show; the patrons were kind, enthusiastic, knowledgable, and supportive."

General Information
Now in its 46th year, Fiesta Arts Fair is an official “kick-off event” for San Antonio’s renowned Fiesta® San Antonio celebration — 11 days of merriment, pageantry, parades and fesitvals, which bring thousands of visitors to the Alamo City every year in April.

Fiesta Arts Fair is a two-day, intimate, event that offers knowledgeable and appreciative art lovers an opportunity to purchase high quality contemporary and traditional art and craft from approximately 115 exhibitors. The Fair also includes live national and regional music, food and beverage booths and an interactive youth art area — all in a beautiful setting, the picturesque and historic grounds of the Southwest School of Art.

Fiesta Arts Fair is a major fundraising event for the non-profit Southwest School of Art; gate proceeds benefit the educational programs of this nationally known art school.

“Great crowd and well organized event with first-rate entertainment.” “Amazing grounds, wonderful people, good sales.” "I love the intimate size of the show; the patrons were kind, enthusiastic, knowledgable, and supportive."

Artist Amenities

Volunteer Artist Relief/Booth Sitting

24-hour on-site security

Promotional postcards and free Fair map & artist listing

Air-conditioned hospitality room with separate indoor restrooms

Pre-ordered box lunches available

Saturday Artists’ Party

Juror awarded cash prizes

Artist Selection/Jury Process
Artists/exhibitors are selected on the basis of Fiesta Arts Fair’s standards of quality, originality and creativity, and production methodology as interpreted by a jury of 3 – 4 visual arts professionals. Prior to scoring, images are projected one at a time using a high quality digital projector as well as viewed on each juror's computer monitor. Jurors will also see the description, materials and dimensions for each image, and the artist statement. Applications are juried by media category. Each application is juried anonymously and given a numerical score, 1 – 7. Scores are computer tabulated and acceptance awarded to the highest scoring applicants.

Approximately 115 artists/exhibitors will be selected of which 6% will be invited and 94% will be selected through the jury process. Artist award winners from the previous year are given a one-year jury exempt status. Prior participation in any of the Fiesta Arts Fairs does not guarantee automatic selection to the Fair.

Ceramics All original functional (not including jewelry) or sculptural work made by hand from clay.

Digital Photography / Digital Art Original images or sourced images captured, created, altered or manipulated digitally on a computer using computer programs, and printed by the artists or under the artist’s direct supervision using ink-jet or laser printing methods. Works must be one-of-a-kind or numbered limited editions. *See Reproduction Policies

Photography Original archival prints in black & white, color, or hand-tinted photographic prints made from the artist’s original images and produced by the artist using traditional darkroom printing techniques on traditional photographic paper. Works must be one-of-a-kind or numbered limited editions. Non-traditional photography should apply under Digital Photography. *See Reproduction Policies

Printmaking* Original images, hand-manipulated and hand-pulled by the artist including etching, engraving, relief, silkscreen, stone or plate lithography. All prints must be limited editions, signed and numbered.

Sculpture Three-dimensional, free-standing or hanging works (non-functional) that are carved, modeled, fabricated, or cast by the artist from wood, clay, stone, metal, fiber, or mixed media.

Application Process
Applications will be accepted and processed through ZAPPlication.org**.
Submit four representative digital images of current work and a booth shot.
For tips on image preparation go to Zapplication's Help Center.

Important Dates

Application Opens | August 15, 2018

Application Deadline | November 6, 2018

Notification & Contract emailed by December 5, 2018

Booth fee and signed contract due January 15, 2019

Booth fees start at $375

A $50 fee will be charge for all cancellations. No refunds will be made for cancellations after February 15, 2019

Rules/Regulations

Fiesta Arts Fair is open only to artists directly involved as a major contributor of the time required in the design and creation of the art work they exhibit. Only original work made by hand will be accepted — no mass produced or sourced kit work allowed regardless of modification or enhancement. Commercially produced parts (jewelry findings, frames etc.) used must play a subordinate role.

The principle artists involved in creating the work, including collaborators listed on the application, must be present and staff their booth during the Fair. No dealers, agents, or representatives will be permitted. Photo identification is required at check-in.

Artists may only exhibit and sell work in the media category and body of work for which they are accepted. All jewelry, regardless of the material used, must have been juried in the jewelry or non-precious jewelry category.

Artist/exhibitors may enter in more than one medium, but must submit separate applications, fees, and images. If only one application is accepted, only work in that medium may be exhibited.

Prints exhibited by artists accepted in the digital/printmaking/photography/non-darkroom photography category must be limited editions and properly signed and numbered. Artists applying under 2-D mixed media/drawing/painting should also observe the reproduction policy.

*Reproduction Policy: Reproduction Policy: Only limited edition (no Artists Proofs), signed and numbered reproductions of accompanying original artwork are allowed. Reproductions, including electrostatic (copier), inkjet (giclees), and offset lithographs, must be archival quality and clearly labeled “Reproduction”. Reproductions should comprise no more than 20% of the number of works in the artist’s booth, and should be unframed and displayed in bins or racks.

Fiesta Arts Fair reserves the right to reject any artist’s displayed items not in keeping with the images submitted, as well as retains the right to prevent an artist from exhibiting for conduct deemed, in the Fair’s sole discretion, unacceptable and/or detrimental to the mission and reputation of the Southwest School of Art and Fiesta Arts Fair.

Booth InformationBooth Payment and Paperwork | Due January 15

The Fiesta Arts Fair Artist Agreement will be emailed to accepted artists; the paperwork must be returned by January 15, 2019. Mail to: Southwest School of Art, 300 Augusta, San Antonio, TX 78205 or email: bhill@swschool.org

Booth fees are payable by by check: to Southwest School of Art or payable by credit card: on Zapplication. Booth fees are also due by January 15.

Preferences for booth location will be considered in the order of receipt of agreement and full booth fee.

The Fair offers 10-x-10-ft, 10-x-15 ft, or 10-x-20 ft booths. NOTE: 10-x-20 ft booths are limited. Most spaces are outdoors; a few (14%) are located indoors.

Booth fees start at $375 for a 10-x-10 ft space and go up, depending on size and location. Corner spaces, electricity, tables and chairs are available for an additional fee.

Artists/exhibitors must provide their own tent and booth structure, which must be of sound design and not exceed the space allocated.

Exhibitors must contain their display and artwork within the dimensions of the booth space rented. Behind the booth storage is not guaranteed.

All participating artists/exhibitors must check in on Friday between 8:00A – 5:00P. Set-up will continue through the night and all booth displays must be fully set up by early Saturday morning. Artists that cannot make the 5:00P check in, should contact the Fair in advance; failure to do so may result in the forfeiture of their booth space and payment.

Application Fees are non-refundable. By submitting this application form, the artist assures that all work presented is original, and that the artist has direct hands-on involvement in their creation and execution of each piece.

Fiesta Arts Fair reserves the right to use submitted jury images of accepted artists for promotional or publicity purposes.

The Southwest School of Art retains the right to refuse work which is not consistent to the submitted images. Work found to not be consistent will be requested to be removed from sale. Non-compliance will result in removal from the Fair without recourse.

The Southwest School of Art retains the right to prevent an artist from exhibiting for conduct deemed, in the School’s sole discretion, unacceptable and/or detrimental to the mission and reputation of the SSA and Fiesta Arts Fair.